Tuki bats for health, education

RANJU DODUM

Itanagar, July 15: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki yesterday laid emphasis on giving priority to health and education sectors in the state, calling for adoption of “zero tolerance” in these social sectors.

He was speaking at one of the series of pre-budget meetings that he has been holding here for the past one week.

“Quality education and good health will determine the future of Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.

Tuki advised the state education department to introduce cut-off marks for college admissions on the basis of intake capacity as is the norm across the country.

Colleges in Arunachal Pradesh currently do not exercise a cut-off system and instead students are admitted on the basis of “minimum qualifying marks”.

This year will witness launching of various new colleges in the state, including five polytechnics in Dirang, Laying, Pasighat, Roing and Namsai besides a model degree college at Geku.

The state director for higher education, Joram Begi, however, said the colleges could run into troubled waters if contingency posts of non-teaching staff are not created soon.

Tuki told officials that better technologically-aided education would help the state which is plagued by communication bottlenecks and geographical hurdles.

He also agreed to form a high-level committee to look into challenges faced by the education department.

The state’s education sector over the years has been plagued by political interference, especially in the appointment of faculty members in government schools.